VBAC vs C/S- What swayed your decision?

[Jennifer13]

I think at the moment the one thing that worries me about VBAC is the risk of emergency c-section. I would rather have a planned c-section than an emergency one and the percentages of attempted VBAcers who end up with emergency surgery is scary!

My ob said that 75-80% of his attempted VBACers were successful and didn't need another c/s. And that's in an area and with a private hospital that generally has dreadful stats on intervention and c/s. In fact, the hospital policies were what put me off trying for a VBAC in the hospital in the first place (I'm having a homebirth).

Check with your care provider as to how many of their VBACs are successful. It will either give you a good idea of how supportive of VBAC they really are, or at least how they compare to others in your area. Ask around, others in the field are likely to know who has a good reputation for a VBAC or not. M/ws are usually a great source of info!

[glenny_c]

Thank you girls. I definitely have some more work to do!

NaeNae- I have PM'd you

As I said to NaeNae- I think my main issue is that I have lost all faith in my body's ability after dd's birth. So when I see stats I immediately put myself on the neg side of them.

[Miss E]

According to my OB the VBAC success rate in Australia is around 50-60%. But he said world wide it is more like 70-75%.

[farmgirl77]

Hi,
I have been struggling with a similar decision.

DS was born by emergency cs after labour failed to progress (I was induced after my waters broke but not contractions). I was mentally and physically very exhausted after the event, having not really slept for 48hrs by the time my DS was born. I think that this contributed to my BF issues and to some extent my PND (although there was lots of other factors as well).

Now pg with DS #2, another emergency cs is my least prefered option of giving birth. So I'm having to decide if I try for a VBAC or if I go for an elective cs. I guess for me there are a few confounding factors in that my ob will not let my pg go past 40wks due to health reasons (so at 40 wks I would be booked in for a cs anyway if I decided to try for VBAC but dont go into labour before 40wks). I also have a low placenta, and a scan at 34wks will determin if it is still low and if so, that will prob mean that I have no choice but a cs.

However, ignorning all the other factors, I've still been grappling with what decision to make. My ob is pro a repeat cs. I would like to birth naturally, but do not want to end up having to have an emergency cs. I am concerned about the public perception of 'elective cs' (and in some ways just hope that my placenta is still low so that the decision is taking out of my hands - how bad is that!). My gut feel is that I will go with an elective cs, even knowing the risks. I guess I dont trust that the outcome will be different from last time if I do attempt VBAC.

Not sure if this will have helped at all, but good luck in your decision.

FG

[Me+him+bub]

farmgirl: I had grade 2 placenta previa and had one last scan at 36 weeks and placenta was totally out of the way, don't give up just yet!

glenny c: How are you going?

[glenny_c]

I'm ok thanks hon. Still undecided but I've decided not to let it stress me, I've got plenty of time to make the decision but I need to relax about it. I've been stressing so much I'm not sleeping which is crazy. My dd deserves better than a stressed out mum.